Chapter 037 Surviving The Apocalyptic Era

　　Hearing the girl’s inspiring words, Chu Mufan sat up straight and turned to look at Youyou, who’d said something so profound. He saw unwavering resolve shining in her eyes as she went on. “I believe one day a great savior will rise among humanity. They’ll break this deadlock, lead everyone out of despair and hardship, and guide us toward new hope.

　　When that day comes, humanity will step into a brand-new world, prosperous and strong once more. Everything on Earth will grow better and brighter.” Watching this tiny, frail girl speak such powerful, uplifting words, Chu Mufan’s heart burned with warmth and passion.

　　“Alright then. Let’s wait for that day together.”

　　“Mhm! Brother Chu, let’s pinky promise and seal it. We’ll watch the new era arrive together, okay?” Moved by Youyou’s earnest longing, Chu Mufan nodded firmly and held out his trembling right pinky finger.

　　Youyou smiled, hooked her small pinky around his bony one, and they said in unison: “Pinky promise!” They pressed their thumbs together loudly: “Sealed!”

　　Bright sunlight fell on their thin, fragile figures, yet cast tall, towering shadows on the ground...

　　The two young people had no idea that this childish, trivial little vow would later completely change Chu Mufan—and indirectly alter the fate of all mankind. But that was a story for another day...

　　“Alright. Instead of worrying pointlessly, let’s do something real. Give me this notebook!

　　I’ll use it as a diary. I’ll write down everything I see and experience in this apocalyptic era. If your prediction comes true someday, this will be a detailed record of this dark era for future generations! Let them remember this cruel history! And cherish the peaceful, beautiful days they live in!” Chu Mufan spoke with renewed determination and ambition.

　　“Okay, Brother Chu! Here you are!” Seeing Chu Mufan’s brightened, confident mood, Youyou was genuinely happy for him.

　　“Wait…” Youyou, about to hand him the notebook, suddenly paused. She took it back, opened the first page, and beneath the crooked line he’d drawn earlier, wrote three neat, bold characters with the broken pencil tip: Chu Mufan.

　　“Here you go, Brother Chu. Now it’s your very own portable notebook, marked with your name. You have to keep it with you everywhere…

　　When you see this name, you’ll remember our promise today, and you’ll remember me, right?”

　　“Yes! Of course. How could I ever forget my silly little sister?” Chu Mufan gently taped Youyou’s nose and smiled.

　　A blissful smile bloomed across her face...

　　“By the way, Youyou… you still haven’t told me why you got soaked today.” Chu Mufan suddenly remembered and asked curiously.

　　“It’s nothing, it’s all Dabai’s fault. I was taking it out to play, but it misbehaved and insisted on running into the water. I couldn’t hold it back for a second, and I fell in too…”

　　“Dabai? Who’s that? A man or a woman?” Chu Mufan asked cluelessly.

　　Youyou couldn’t help laughing, “Dabai is a big white horse! It’s completely snow-white and tall, so we all call it Dabai.”

　　“There are horses in this camp? Is it yours? How come I’ve never seen it?”

　　“I don’t have that privilege. Dabai is the lord’s mount. But he rarely rides it anymore since coming here… so he left it in my care. I’ve been raising it for almost two years now.” Youyou smiled.

　　“Where is it? Take me to see it! I’ve never ridden a horse in my entire life.” Chu Mufan was excited; he’d never been on a horse before.

　　“It’s at the livestock farm halfway down the mountain. But I don’t know if it’ll let you ride it. It’s very smart and only trusts certain people. Besides the lord and the young lady, no one else is allowed to touch it—not even Captain Star.”

　　“Really? What a temperamental horse! That makes me even more curious. Come on! Hurry and take me!” Youyou’s words fully piqued Chu Mufan’s interest. Like an excited child, he begged her to take him to see the white horse.

　　“It’s meal time now. Let’s eat first, then go. The farm’s quite far away—we won’t make it back in time otherwise.” Youyou said and looked up at the sun.

　　“Alright! We’ll leave right after eating!” Chu Mufan rubbed his stomach, feeling hungry too. Probably because he’d moved around more today. He’d never felt hungry until afternoon in previous days, but these past two days he got hungry much faster, already craving food before meal time.

　　“I don’t have time to cook today… how about we go to the cafeteria instead?” Youyou said apologetically.

　　“Great! Let’s go! I’ve never been to the cafeteria before anyway.” Chu Mufan smiled happily. Ever since making the promise with Youyou, his mood had been completely lifted by her.

　　The two walked slowly toward the cafeteria, chatting and laughing...

　　There were two cafeterias in the Shen Nongjia Survivor Camp, one in the main camp and one in the combat camp. The dining systems of the two camps were completely different.

　　In the main survivor camp, the cafeteria was the most desirable place for everyone.

　　Every single thing they worked hard for each day was simply hoping to eat their fill, just to fill their hungry bellies. There was no breakfast served daily. Only one meal at midday and one in the evening.

　　The food was simple: one dish, one soup, and a little porridge. Rice was a rare luxury on better days. Rations also varied from person to person.

　　Everyone had a daily work quota. Those who failed to meet it got no meal ticket at all. Those who finished their work later received tickets further down the queue—and the later you were, the less food you got.

　　The main camp cafeteria was also the shabbiest of the three camp areas. It was little more than a crude tent with rickety supports holding large pots and cooking utensils. Cooks prepared simple dishes casually. Survivors came to eat, squatting or sitting directly on the ground, savoring their rare meal…

　　In contrast, the combat camp cafeteria was formal and proper. It was a solid brick building with long tables and benches inside. Every soldier had their own lunch box. Daily meals consisted of four dishes and one soup, with meat served at regular intervals.

　　Three meals were provided every day. Extra feasts were held during the Spring Festival and special occasions, with alcohol included—but strictly rationed. Brewing alcohol required large amounts of grain, and in an era where people could barely feed themselves, staying full was far more important than drinking well!

　　Alcohol in the camp was mostly scavenged by exploration teams from down the mountain. But after three years of collecting, it was a dwindling resource—gone forever once finished, and harder and harder to find.

　　The lord’s district consisted entirely of villas, each with its own kitchen. Only the camp’s core leaders and high-ranking figures lived here. The lord assigned servants to them, so they cooked for themselves at home. They never worried about food, clothing or supplies...

　　……